and then I traded... medium rear main seal leak, plus I really wanted an exploder. rest of the engine was clean, tight, and no plug residue... just a little power loss. 34,000 on that exploder now with the 5.0L V8, just a piker, I expect zillions of miles.

I had a 1964 Falcon Sprint with a 260 V8 in it. I bought it with 166,000 on it and put another 20,000 or so before dropping in a 289 & C4.

Bought new a '90 Mustang LX 5.0 and put on 110,000 in just over 3 years. Still was running strong when I sold it in 1993.

Most amazing Ford I ever drove was a Taurus rented from Budget Rent A Car in Ohio. That thing had 69,000 on it - all rental car miles. That's got to equate to something like 169,000 in normal car miles. Frankly I was amazed the car even ran and I can only imagine the beating it took over its life.

In my 75 Ford pickup with a 302. I thought it was running pretty good but decided to do it when I changed a water pump and radiator. The front seal was leaking and the gear set is cheap. I always had a vacuum gauge mounted on the dash aand after the new chain, the vacuum went up almost 2 inches. Didn't look like that much stretch. It was still getting 17.5 mpg on trips wen I got rid of it at 276K. I don't even buy an Explorer till it has 100K on it and I still expect to get another 100K or more on it.

my dad drove a 1979 F-100 with about 120k on it when he got rid of it. I had a 1988 Ranger with the 2.9 that went 112k before i got rid of it. my mom drove 3 different Aerostar vans with the 3.0, all went 100k plus, with no problems and standard maintenance. my brother had a 1989 F-150 with the 4.9 which went almost 150k and all it needed when he sold it was a clutch. my cousin drove a 1989 Probe LX with 165,000 and no problems...still got like 26 mpg when he sold it.these cars are very reliable and affordable, and i havent driven anything i liked more than our fords.

I had a 1995 Windstar, which I put about 87,000 miles on in 5-1/2 years. Unfortunately, it had all of the problems that make the 1995 Windstar so infamous - the failing transmission and the head gasket failure. Just check out the Ford Town Hall site for discussions on this model year Windstar.

In my last year of ownership and 20,000 miles of driving, the van cost $7,088.17 in routine maintenance and special repairs, including over $3,600 for a new engine and $1,800 for transmission repairs. Fortunately, Ford reimbursed me about $4,200 of those costs, but this van was the most expensive vehicle I've owned to date.

I put 175K on a 1984 Baby Blue Tempo. We thought this car was ugly but was all we could afford. We bought it with 60K on it and took it to 175K. Needed essentially no work. Still had the original clutch. It sounded like a bucket of walnuts when I sold it for $200 in 1994.

Also took a '74 Pinto to 130K, only had two oil filters in its life.

Took a 1985 EXP to 141K in 4 years.

Took a 1989 Probe to 148K. Was in great shape when I sold it at a yard sale.

I have done all this with minimal maintenance (see Pinto). I really love Fords.

...had an '84 Tempo coupe, white with an automatic. It had about 160K miles on its original driveline when they traded it for a '91 Stanza.

My roommate's mother has a '92 or '93 Mercury Sable, with the 3.0 V-6. It's getting a bit on the ratty side now, but I just found out the other day that it has 205,000 miles on it! Original engine and tranny, but I think she's had suspension and brake work done.

1992 Mazda Navajo (rebadged 2 door Ford Explorer). I traded it with 146,000 miles on it. It had the 1st 2 model year cracked cylinder head problem. It ate brake rotors like candy. It ate A/C compressors until they replaced the entire closed system and put in a filter. It ate electronic front hubs.

1998 Mercury Mountaineer V8. I traded it a few weeks ago with 108,500 on it. It had the classic rear wiper dead every 30,000 miles problem. Every moving part in the front drivetrain and suspension died.

1981 Mustang turbo. I sold it with 90,000 miles on it. It was on its 2nd engine and 2nd transmission.

1972 Ford Maverick. I sold it with 128,000 miles on it. Original 200" 6 and 3-on-the-tree engine. It only ever died on the road once when the left rear wheel bearing let go. By the time I was done with it, most of the body had been replaced due to Vermont rust and road salt. I was really good with ballpeen hammers and pop rivets.

Had a company veh. 1989 Ford F-250 with the 464. 250,000 miles when we traded. The only thing that was replaced was starter (4 times) and the ignition (3 times) This was a delivery truck so it was started at least 25 times a day.. No other major repairs

A friend of mine that was a salesman had a 1990 Ford Taurus with 247K on the odometer when he traded it in. The dealership thought there was 47K on the odometer since it had no rust and was well maintained. He told them 247K when he traded it in.

I personally road in the car before he traded it in and was quite impressed on the ride and quietness of a car with that much mileage.

The only problem he had with the car was he had to replace the starter once and routine regular maintenance.